Liquid sprayer



E. W. VOSE LIQUID SPRAYER Jan. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1947 m/ N o M IL/M40 ATTO RN EY5 I Q l i Q fl lip .i. 4 1 .v \Q in v0 m? a E; F: 3 m h Ru W Q i R I, mm Qq Mm ww Jan. 13, 1953 w 055 2,625,433

LIQUID SPRAZER Filed June 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR b/WA/A/ /0J ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1953 LIQUID"*SPRAYER'- Wt. Vase,- Orange, ,N. Jt, assignor to Spray Process: 003 Inc. a corporation of; New York Applicationiuneifi, 1947; SerialNo. 'zstivea 1. Glahm. (c1. 2-99'89) This invention relates to improvements in liquid spra-yers, and has for aprincipal object the provision of a liquid sprayer in which theac tuating air passes through the nozzle in' a full stream at low pressures,, and inwhich; in lieuof valves or the like, a vent communicating'with the vessel containing the liquid to be sprayed;

ispositioned so that the operator ma'y-cl'ose-cnr uncover said vent with a thumb orfingerand' thereby control the operation of the device:

Another object of the invention istheprovision in a liquid" sprayer of'a nozzle'havinga; flanged portion" adapted to form a closurefforia" vessel. containing the liquid tobesprayed; said, nozzle being adapted to"have'1arge"vo1umes-of"air att'low" pressures continuously passed therethrough, a;

passage in said flange member communicatingvwith the interior of saidnozzle and with the imterior'of said vessel'above the levelof" the liquid therein, means in saidlno'zzle for deflecting air through said passage, injectormeans adjacent to the exit of said nozzle and communicating with liquid in said vessel below" the" levellof the sel; flanged means on saidnozzle" adaptedto fit the mouth of said vessel; and clamping meanson said vessel for securing said flange thereto, in:- jector means insaid: nozzleinfiuenced by air passing" therethrough and extendinginto" said vessel-below'the level of liquid: therein, a -pa'ssage' providing communication betweenthe interiorofisaid vessel and the interior ofsaidnozzleforimpressing pressure on the surface of liquid therein, and vent-means formed-in saidflange and. communicating withthe-interior of 1 said ves sel and-with the atmosphere, said sprayer being adapted to operate when said vent meansclosed and pressure via said passage builds up in said vessel above thet'surface of liquid therein;

Yet another object of-the inventioniis the provision in alliquidisprayerof: a nozzle-having-in jector means therein connected to the liquidto be; sprayed; and" a cap orthimble positionedonthe end of the nozzle and having a'central ovalorifice. formed in the end ofthis thimble and the further provision of at least one passage communicating with air withinsa-id nozzle and angularly disposedl with respect to the axis of the outlet of said injectorimeana whereby: air passing through said-passageamayreact: upon. the: dischargefrom said nozzle-andx change the shape of 'said discharge toanother shape thanlconi'calz Another object I of the invention is: the provision of a thimble such as describ'ed above-having; a central, elliptical opening in the end thereof; through which :the-.: liquid sprayer passes, and a pair of oppositelydisposed tubular passagess lying onthe I short axis of theelliptical opemn'g; and: angularly disposed withrespect to the axis of the liquid spray, communicating with 'air'within said nozzle and adapted to d'ef'ormi-said spray from a conical form to an elliptical for-1n.

Otherobjeets and advantages of the-invention willbeapparent'to those skilled-in the art upon a study of" this specification and; the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I isa side 1 elevation,- partl-y in. section, showing my new and'imp'roved'liquid sprayer;

Figure 2 isanelevation of the-device asseen from the right side ofFigure 1;

Figure-3 is a-plan view-of the device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary viewefaportion of the dv-icesh'ownin Figurel; I

Figure '5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device shown inFigure 1 devised' 'to spray air-elongated or oval swathe upon an-object;='

Figure 6 is-aview of'tl'iemodificationshown in Figure 5 as seen fromthe-right sideth'ereof},

Figure-7 is a fragmentary view-similar to'Fig ure 6 except-'thatthe thimble on the" end of the Fig-ure 13 is a sectional view=- taken albngtlie Referring-first to Figure I; thespray nozzle l0 includes-.a-straight tubular pcrtion- H having" an interior passage 12 through" which a stream ofair' may'p'ass. Preferably the air-'issuppliew at low pressure and large volume; Secured to the tube H is a fianged'member; generally designated by the numeral t3, and includinga" por tion [3- abuttingand fittingtheouter wall of the =tube=-| A hollow pcrtionl5= extends down-' wardly from the portion [4 and terminates in an annular flange I6, the purpose of which will be presently described. The interiors of the portions I5 and i6, designated by the numeral H, are hollow and are in communication with the interior of the jar or vessel H3. The vessel has a mouth |9 which carries an annular stepped portion 20, which is adapted to be engaged by the interior wall of the annular portion IS, a gasket 2| being provided between the lower face of the annular flange l6 and the upper face IQ of the vessel. The vessel may carry a clamping member, generally designated by the numeral 22, and including a yoke member 23, the upper portion 23a of which is offset to partially embrace one side of the portion |5. The clamping member also includes a lever member 24, which is adapted to be raised to release the device from the vessel and adapted to be moved downwardly to clamp the device onto the vessel.

Formed in the portion I4 is a passage 25 which communicates with the interior |2 of the tube II and with the interior I1, and in turn with the interior of the vessel l8, which is in open communication therewith. Within the interior of the tube II and adjacent to the passage 25 and facing the left end of the tube H, as seen in Figure 1, is a deflecting plate 26 which is adapted to deflect some of the air passing through the tube into the space I! and the interior of the vessel |8, so that under certain conditions to be presently described, pressure may build up on the surface of liquids within the vessel l8. Positioned within the tube II is an elbow 21, the male threaded portion 28 of which extends through a suitable hole in the wall of the tube II and which is engaged by a coupling 29. Threadedly engaging the coupling 29 is a pipe 36 which extends downwardly within the vessel 8 to a point near the bottom thereof. The upper end of the coupling 29 may seat on a shoulder Me with a gasket 42 therebetween toform a fluid-tight joint with the portion I4.

Threadedly engaging the female threaded portion 3| of the street elbow 2'! is a nipple 32 which extends parallel to the tube beyond the right end thereof, as seen in Figure 1. Threadedly engaging the right end of the nipple 32 is a closed bushing or cap 33. having at least one aperture 34 formed therein. The bushing 33, near the end 34. is beveled as shown at 35. A thimble 36 has a portion 3'! forming a snug fit over the right end of the tube II and a beveled portion 38 which terminates in an annular portion 39, the interior opening 4|) of which is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the bushing 33.

Formed in the wall of the portion 5 and communicating with the interior I! is a passage 4|. This passage has been devised to take the place of, or eliminate the necessity of a valve. When this passage is closed, for example, by the user's thumb or finger, pressure may build up within the vessel l8 above the surface of the liquid therein and force liquid up the pipe 30 and thence via the elbow 21, the nipple 32, and the opening 34 in the bushing 33 and into the air stream passing through the opening 39 surrounding the bushing 33, where it is mixed with the air and is directed toward the work.

Now, when the vent 4| is opened, any tendency up such pressure and passing thereto via the passage 25 is allowed to leak out into the atmosphere, and hence no spraying is effected. The thimble 36 may be moved on the end of the tube relative to the bushing 33, thereby giving the operator some degree of control over the type of spray obtained.

Another important function of the thimble or outside shell 36 is that in case the aperture 34 (or a plurality of them in cases where a plurality of apertures is used instead of one) becomes stopped up, the operator, by adjusting the thimble or shell forwardly by hand (toward the outlet of the sprayer) causes a back pressure to be produced in the liquid jet, and thus the machine may be cleaned and the shell or thimble pushed back to its normal position to place the sprayer into operation.

In Figures 5-10 inclusive a modification of the invention is shown wherein the spray nozzle 42 has a-tubular portion 43, the left end43a of which is connected via a hose or other flexible conduit 44 to a motor driven blower.

Secured to the tubular portion 43 and preferably at right angles thereto is a second tubular portion 45 the tip end 46 of which is closed and has formed therein an air passage 41 communicating with the interior of the tubular portion 43 and a second hole which will be presently described.

Joining the portion 45 and preferably formed integral therewith is an annular portion 48 which has its axis eccentric with the axis of the portion 45. The web 49 between the portions 45 and 48 forms an incline over which the locking bail 50 may be passed to engage a depression 5| formed in the surface 49 adjacent to the portion 45.

The annular portion 48 has a seating surface 52 which contacts a sealing ring or gasket 53 mounted on a shoulder 54 formed on the container 55.

The bail 50 has parallel depending portions 56 and 5! which respectively engage loops 58 and 59 formed in a generally U-shaped lever member 60 which oppositely engage loops 6| and 62 formed in the fixed embracing ring 63 which embraces the vessel or container 55.

When securing the nozzle on to the vessel 55, the nozzle is positioned on the vessel as shown in Figure 5 with the lever 60 shown in the position shown in the dot-dash lines and the ball 50 is swung to the position shown in dot-dash mes.

The operator, after making sure that the asket 53 is properly positioned between the seating face 52 and shoulder 54, swings the lever 63 downwardly to the position shown in solid lines, with the result that the bail 5D assumes the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 and during the latter portion of the movement of the lever 63 the bail 50 exerts sumcient force to tension the gasket 53 and thereby a contact seal is effected between the vessel and the nozzle.

Returning to Figure 8, a threaded nipple 64 has its tip end threadedly engaging the portion 65 of a T fitting 66. The upper end of the nipple 64 has a beveled seat 61 formed thereon which is adapted to be engaged by the beveled end 58 of a valve element 69. The valve element has a threaded stem 10 which threadedly engages a bushing II which extends through the wall of the tubular portion 43 and which threadedly engages the leg 12 of the T fitting v66. The stem 10 has a knob 13 onthe upper end thereof by means of which the valve member 69 maybe propelled toward or awayfrom the seat 61.

g The nipple 64 extends through a hole 14 formed in'the end 46 and is secured therein by means of a nut 15 which abuts the closed end of wall 46.

Threadedly engaging the lower end I6 of thenipple 04- and extending downwardly to a point adjacent to the bottom of the vessel 55 is a pipe I1. Mounted on the pipe 11 adjacent to the lower end of the passage I8 formed within the portion 45 is a disk 19 which defines a passage 80 between its perimeter and the lower edge of the passage 18. The purpose of this disk is to define a narrow passage through which air may freely pass downwardly but which discourages slugs of liquid from passing in the opposite direction.

The leg BI of the T 66 has its axis substantially on the center line of the tubular portion 43 and threadedly engaged by one end 8-3 of a nipple 82, and a lock nut 84 with a washer 85 between it and the end of the portion 8| securely locks the nipple 82 therein.

The outer end 86 of the nipple 82 is threadedly engaged by a tip 8'! which may have formedtherein one or more holes 88.

The right end 43a of the tubular portion 43, as may be seen in Figure 8, has a plurality of longitudinal slots 89 formed therein so that fittings may be firmly mounted thereon without binding, due to the fact that the portions of the wall between the slots are springy.

A thimble generally designated by the numeral 90, has a straight portion 9I which fits over the end 43a of the air tube 43 and an angular portion 92 formed integral therewith with an inward bead 93 formed therebetween. The bead 93 forms a shoulder which abuts the end of the air tube 43 and therefore forms a step for the thimble 99.

The thimble 90 has an end wall 94, with an oval or elliptical opening 95 formed therein. In Figure 6, the opening 95 is shown with its long axis horizontal. It will also be noted that the hole 88 in the tip 81 is positioned in alignment with the point where the horizontal and vertical axes of the elliptical opening 95 cross each other.

The end wall 94 of the thimble has a threaded hole 96 formed therein. This hole is spaced apart from the elliptical opening 95 and has its axis forming a predetermined angle with the axis of the air tube 43.

Mounted in the threaded hole 96 is a short threaded nipple 91, the outer extremity of Which extends beyond the tip 81. A second angularly threaded hole 98 is formed in the end wall 94 and this hole is substantially equi-distance from the axis of the tip 88 and has its axis forming substantially the same angle with the axis of the air tube as that of the axis of the hole 96.

Mounted in the hole 98 is a threaded bushing 99 which is preferably identical with the bushing 91. When the spray gun is being operated, the spray leaving the ti 88, which would be normally conical in form, is influenced by air passing from the air tube 43 via openings in the nipples 91 and 99, and is thereby distorted and changed to substantially an elliptical cross section, and therefore the device deposits upon the surface against which the spray is directed, an elongated or oval swathe of the fluid being sprayed.

It will be noted that in the arrangement shown in Figures -10 inclusive, the spray gun has no operating valve. A hole I00 is formed in the wall of the tubular portion 45, and the gun is operated as follows:

When air is passing through the air tube 43 and the hole I00, which might be termed the operating vent is open, air passing into the passage 18 via the hole 41 passes on out to the atmospherevia the operating vent I00 and consequently no pressure can build up within thevessel 55.

Now, as soon as the operator wishes to cause the gun to spray, he covers the operating vent I00 with a thumb or finger and immediately the pressure starts to build up within the vessel 55-, due to the fact that air passing into the vessel via the passage 18 and the hole 41 cannot escape, and therefore this pressure is exerted upon the surface of the liquid Within the vessel, forcing it up through the pipe H, the nipple 14, the T fitting 65 and the nipple 82 to the opening '68 formed in the tip 81. v

Due to the fact that air passes over the tip 6-1 via the elliptical opening 95, a; partial vacuumdsproduced which abets the removal of liquid fromthe nipple 82 and causes it to form a spray.

Now, as a spray leaves-the opening 95, it is in-' fluenced by jets of air passing through the nip ples 91 and 99-and its shape is changed from conical to oval or elliptical and it is deposited on the surface being treated in the form of an elongated swathe of the fluid medium being sprayed.

If the thimble 94 is in the position shown in Figure 6, the elongated swathe deposited on the surface is horizontal. Due to the fact that the end of the air tube is provided with slits 89 so that the webs therebetween springingly engage the thimble, the thimble may be rotated on the end of the air tube. From this it will be seen that the worker may deposit an elongated swathe on the surface of the work with the axis of the swathe extending in any desired direction.

Suppose that it were desired to have the swathe extend vertically; the thimble 90 would be rotated on the end of the air tube 43 to bring it into the position shown in Figure 7 where the major axis of the ellipse is vertical. Obviously, the thimble may be set with the elongated axis of the ellipse in any desired position between the two above described positions.

In cases where the paint or other material being sprayed contains solid matter which can settle to the bottom of the vessel, the modification shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 is important.

Referring to these figures, it will be noted that elements like those shown in Figures 5-10 have been given the same numerals as the corresponding elements in the Figures 5-10 except that they are followed by the letter a. For example, the vessel containing the fluid to be sprayed is designated in Figures 11 and 13 by the numeral 55a, etc. Since the description of these elements is clearly set forth in connection with Figures -10, it is believed that this description need not be repeated.

The hole or passage 41a communicates with a threaded hole IOI formed in the wall 46a, and engaging this threaded hole is a fitting I92 which is in turn secured to the upper end of a tube I03. The tube I03 has its lower end curved as at I04 and terminating at I05 with its axis substantially horizontal.

By this arrangement the air entering the vessel, instead of being directly impressed upon the surface of the fluid in the vessel, as is the case in the arrangement shown in Figures 5-10, is delivered below the surface of the fluid, in fact, in the bottom of the fluid, and due to the curved arrangement of its lower end as shown in I04 and I05 in Figure 13, this air agitates the fluid Within aoeansa the vessel at the bottom thereof, and consequently any solids are constantly stirred and intermixed with the fluid so that the mixture always passes up the tube 11a to be sprayed.

It will be noted that the end I05 of the tube I03 terminates above the lower end of the pipe Ila and is therefore arranged so that none of the agitating air from the tube 105 enters the pipe 11a, but instead, this air agitates the fluid and then rises to the upper portion of the vessel 55a and exerts pressure on the surface of the fluid. Instead of using a disk such as the disk shown in Figure 8 to separate the chamber 18a from the space above the surface of the fluid, a member I06 is employed. This member has a disk-like body [01 which has a slot [08 formed therein to straddle the pipe Tia and has a leg I09 projecting oppositely therefrom through which a screw H passes and threadedly engages a correspondingly threaded hole HI formed in the web 49a. This leaves a space [(2 between the member I06 and the walls of the passage 18a, which corresponds to the space 80 shown in Figure 8. The device operates exactly the same as described in connection with Figures -10 and the pipe 103 performs the additional function of agitating the fluid in the bottom thereof.

Although the device shown in Figures 11 to 13 is described above as a liquid sprayer, I do not wish to be limited to its use as a liquid sprayer because I have found that the principle employed therein for agitating the liquid with the vessel 55a will also agitate divided solids and this principle has actually been used by me in devices for spraying powders, granules, flock, and other divided animal, vegetable, and mineral materials.

Although I have herein shown and described an improved spray gun and two modifications thereof, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangement shown and described within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a liquid sprayer an elongated tubular member one end of which is adapted to be connected to a source of actuating air, flange means on said member intermediate the ends thereof for attaching said nozzle to a vessel for containing liquid to be sprayed, jet means including a fitting mounted in said nozzle intermediate the ends thereof and including a conduit extending through said flange means and terminating below the level of liquid in said vessel, tubular means within said member and substantially concentric therewith and forming an outlet for said jet means, said tubular means having one end connected to said fitting and having its other end threaded, an apertured tip threadedly engaging said threaded end and adapted to be adjusted axially thereon, and a thimble mounted on the discharge end of said nozzle and movable axially thereon, said thimble having an aperture formed therein embracing said tip and being adjustable axially on said nozzle for regulating the spray and for effecting back pressure for cleaning said apertured tip.

EDWIN W. VOSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,455 I-Iolmgren May 14, 1907 1,427,210 Hook Aug. 29, 1922 1,806,784 Breuer May 26, 1931 1,897,173 Long et al. Feb. 14, 1933 1,911,367 Kitto May 30, 1933 1,929,882 De Hart Oct. 10, 1933 1,948,533 Neely Feb. 27, 1934 2,003,087 Lynger May 28, 1935 2,228,705 Olson Jan. 14, 1941 2,241,337 Work May 6, 1941 2,243,435 Mott Jr. May 27, 1941 2,275,691 Simanton Mar. 10, 1942 2,303,280 Jenkins Nov. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 434,523 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1935 

